Brigadistas all over again?

[OJ]

if we want to help youth, then we should fix the education system. The last 18 yrs pnp did not do enough... Make it mandatory for youth graduating to either have the cxcs or whatever they call them now or a trade and an apprenticeship opportunity. Punish parents who support truancy... while cuba can offers some help i think we can help ourselves.












Hanna looks to Cuba for help with youth

Published: Friday | January 13, 2012 12 Comments



THE RECENTLY elected Portia Simpson Miller-led administration is looking to neighbouring Cuba for ideas as it tries to address the problem of the thousands of unattached youths across [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]the [COLOR=blue !important]island[/color][/color][/color].
New Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, has already started discussions with Cuban officials on possible areas of cooperation between Jamaica and Cuba that would create opportunities for the advancement of youths.
During discussions with the Cuban ambassador to Jamaica, Yuri Gala Lopez, on Tuesday, Hanna highlighted the plight of Jamaican youths, while pointing out that close to 70 per cent of them are unskilled and approximately 55 per cent leave school without passing a single subject.
Hanna also noted that 75 per cent of crimes recorded across the island are committed by persons under the age of 30. She declared her commitment to finding solutions to this problem.
"There is much work to be done to reverse the statistics and to improve the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]life [COLOR=blue !important]chances[/color][/color][/color] of Jamaica's youth. My top priority is finding and providing opportunities for youth to succeed, particularly youth at risk," said Hanna as she discussed best practices introduced by the Cuban government.
Hanna noted that Cuba has used culture to provide [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]jobs[/color][/color] locally and internationally for its young people and argued that Jamaica could achieve similar success with the requisite support.
"Cuba has given strong technical support to Jamaica in several areas, including providing teachers and medical staff and assisting to advance sports programmes. I look forward to our two countries working together to provide opportunities for youth using our cultural programmes, including in the areas of culture and arts instruction."
Hanna was appointed minister of youth and culture last Friday, after she was named to the 20-member Cabinet by Simpson-Miller.
She reported for work that afternoon and has been reviewing briefs while meeting with staff and [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue ! important]stakeholders[/color][/color].
Already, she has given instructions for the creation of a database for youth population and the finalisation of a document to be discussed with the Ministry of Finance on exemptions, tax reforms and incentives for the creative industries.
Hanna has also mandated the development of a concept paper for the enhancement of the creative industries for discussion with the ministries of Industry, Investment and Commerce and Tourism and Entertainment.

[Islandman]

Agree with the education focus but the youths in thier late teens/20s who already miss that boat are also a problem to be dealt with.

A lot of those may well be already lost though. It really hard to take a 25 y.o. who leave school at 15, never work yet and have no skills and find something meaningful for him to do.

[Mosiah]

What are the options?

Cuba mi seh!

[MdmeX]

Go look for Larry Robertson, ex PNP Councillor, him can train them. Him well versed with the Cuba thing

[Skeng DX]

a so him ruff

Charges brought by prominent attorney Valerie Neita Robertson against her husband who was accused of severely beating her with a cricket bat were dropped yesterday.

Bert Samuels, the lawyer representing Valerie Neita Robertson asked for his client's case against her husband to be adjourned sine die as she did not wish to proceed with the matter.

The accused, Lawrence Robertson, 58-year-old former People's National Party caretaker for the Fairy Hill (Portland, Division Three) area was charged with one count of unlawful wounding and assault occasioning bodily harm. The case was mentioned on Thursday in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

The presiding Resident Magistrate granted the request and the case ended.

Cricket bat

Allegations are that at about 9 a.m. on August 21, the couple was at their home in the Kingston 6 area, when a dispute over a domestic matter began. During the dispute, it is alleged that a cricket bat was used to inflict several blows all over Neita-Robertson's body. It is said that the couple's son was present at the time of the attack.

The police say Mrs. Neita Robertson's refusal to provide her husband with some pictures that were in her possession, brought about the dispute. She received severe injuries and wounds to her right eye, back and right leg.

A report was made to the Matilda's Corner Police Station the same day and Robertson was brought to the station by his lawyer on the following Wednesday when he was charged.

...

[MdmeX]

Yuh think him easy That is a man to be FEARED!

[Karl]

Agree with the education focus but the youths in thier late teens/20s who already miss that boat are also a problem to be dealt with.

A lot of those may well be already lost though. It really hard to take a 25 y.o. who leave school at 15, never work yet and have no skills and find something meaningful for him to do.

Man is the animal best suited to 'wheel and come again'. Age is never an impediment to change (changing outlook!)!

Never lose faith in your fellow man.

[Karl]

...one would think...she should leave?!
Forgive...but lovingly leave is an option...possible good option?!

Right?

[Reggaedoc]

What a low life, Larry Robertson. I remember him from back in the 70s. Was one of the DK Duncan portages. What should one expect. Surprise to know that goon is still above ground, so to speak.

[MdmeX]

What a low life, Larry Robertson. I remember him from back in the 70s. Was one of the DK Duncan portages. What should one expect. Surprise to know that goon is still above ground, so to speak.

Ask the people of Portland about him and you will hear tales from the crypt!

[Reggaedoc]

Yah. Can just imagine. Hard to get rid of gutter rats. Hope this new PNP admin has no plan of resurrecting this idiot.

[Don1]

lol

[Skeng DX]

Old Story But...

The new 'brigadistas' - More Jamaicans get scholarships to study in Cuba


Less than three decades ago, Jamaicans with degrees from Cuban universities were scorned and labelled 'brigadistas' by sections of the society.

Fast-forward to 2009 and Jamaicans are queuing up to get scholarships to study in the communist island.

According to the Cuban Embassy in Kingston, 1,200 Jamaicans have applied for scholarships to study in Cuba. The embassy says 824 applications have been processed with 253 scholarships awarded.

"The process of selection is really tough and sometimes we are not able to please everybody. We would really like to have the capacity to give more scholarships to all those meeting the criteria, but today it is not possible," Jorge Crespo, chief of collaboration and cooperative programmes at the Cuban Embassy, declared yesterday.

Great opportunities

"But I tell you one thing, no superpower in this world, no developed country ... offers (better) opportunities to study to children of the poor than Cuba," Crespo added.

He was speaking yesterday at the annual general meeting of Jamaica/Cuba Friendship Association, where 26 more full scholarships were awarded to Jamaicans to study at Cuban universities.

This will increase the number of Jamaicans studying in Cuba to 282.

The scholarships will cover tuition and boarding for the Jamaicans, who are scheduled to leave the island in September.

Among the scholarship winners announced yesterday are 20 people who will study medicine and one person who will read for a degree in humanities and education.

The others include persons studying sports, and one person studying to become an architect. Another is moving to answer the Govern-ment's call for more trained pharmacists.

The students will receive a monthly stipend of US$125 from the Jamaican Government after Prime Minister Bruce Golding made a commitment to them when he visited Cuba last year.

[Skeng DX]

I think it is a good thing Cuba doing

[Hortical]

A brethren's bother who was active in the PNPYO back in the day studied medicine in Cuba and he is doing well today in private practice.